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Arcade games from Pong to MAME
Though "arcade" has become synonymous with strip malls and dimly lit rooms full of electronic bleeps and teenagers, the word derives from a much earlier historical period. Arcades were long covered passages with shops on either side. Since the earliest amusement parks featured arcades full of shooting galleries, ball toss games, and coin-operated music and fortune telling machines, such places came to be known as amusement arcades. Nearly a century later, the name has stuck.
Classic arcade games
The history of classic arcade games begins in 1972, when Atari released Pong. Pong's success essentially created the arcade game industry. Atari games such as Night Driver, Breakout, Football, and Asteroids would be some of the most innovative of the 1970s, though Space Invaders, released by Taito/Bally/Midway in 1978, was also a huge hit.
It was in the early 1980s that arcade games really exploded, with such hits as Bally/Midway's Pac-Man (1980) and Nintendo's Donkey Kong (1981) leading the way. Such games were perfect representations of typical arcade game play: short levels, simple controls, and memorably iconic characters.
Other popular 80s arcade games included Midway's Galaga (1981), Atari's Dig Dug (1982), Sega's Zaxxon (1982), and Atari's Gauntlet (1985).
Arcade game decline
By the mid-1980s, arcade games began to fade in popularity, replaced by the burgeoning home video game console industry. The success of two-player fighting games in the early 90s spawned a brief resurgence in popularity. Capcom's Street Fighter II (1991) and Midway Games' Mortal Kombat (1992) were two of the most renowned 90s arcade games.
The latest home video game consoles have surpassed the graphics and game design of the classic arcade games of the 80s and 90s. Consequently, modern arcade games are typically designed to take advantage of the sizing and design features that home video game consoles lack. Examples of this are interactive music video games such as Konami's Dance Dance Revolution, rail shooters like Sega's The House of the Dead, and racing games.
Used arcade games
Driven by nostalgia and the convenience of the Internet, the market for used arcade games continues to grow. The cost of used arcade games can run anywhere from $700 or $800 to $2,000, $5,000, or even more. Prices will be affected by such factors as the condition, warranties, game return policies, and technical or maintenance support. A great deal of patience and comparison shopping is advised if you're looking to buy quality arcades.
Arcade game simulators
An easy way to enjoy the classic arcade games you love is online or through simulators. One popular arcade game simulator is known as MAME, for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator (www.mame.net). MAME is a computer software program with the primary goal of preserving and documenting arcade game hardware. Because MAME is simply an arcade game emulator, it is legal to use in the U.S. and is not the same as pirating music or movies.
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